Hamilton schoolboy Brandon to study at prestigious Berklee College of Music in the US

Campaign raises funds for teenager's study at Boston's Berklee College of Music

Brandon Brown from Burnbank, Hamilton has been accepted for scholarship at Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.

A talented Hamilton schoolboy’s dreams of studying at the most renowned music college in America have become a reality.

Sixteen-year-old Brandon Brown, of Burnbank, was selected to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston last year but needed £35,000 to cover costs.

The musician applied for a scholarship in February last year and found out one month later that he had been accepted.

Prior to Brandon’s scholarship offer the prestigious college had only ever seen two Scots make the cut at the age of 16.

However, Brandon was faced with the challenge of raising £35,000 to fund the rest of the tuition fees, housing and living expenses, plus all students are required to have a MacBook Pro.

Since his acceptance letter Brandon set up his own website where you can see him play and donate, which reached £655.

Friends and family furiously fundraised by holding sponsored walks, race nights, making and selling tablet which in total raised £14,500.

However, the Calderside Academy student was delighted to receive the news that he would be awarded £10,000 from the Donald Dewar Arts Awards fund.

The fund supports the brightest and best of Scotland’s young artistic talent.

Brandon also secured £3000 from the Cross Trust. It is a charitable body which gives grants to young Scots who are of merit and in financial need in order, in the words of the Trust’s founder Sir Alexander Cross (1880-1963) “to extend the boundaries of their knowledge of human life.”

Brandon’s mum Hazel said: “These amazing sums of money mean that together with our own fundraising Brandon will be able to go to Berklee for the first year. His flight has been booked and he leaves on August 31 for Boston.

“Our efforts are still ongoing to make sure he can attend for a second year.

“We now have to travel back to London to the American embassy to attain his student visa, as there is no American embassy in Scotland.

“Brandon is so excited to be getting this opportunity of a lifetime and is counting down the days until August 31. He would also like to thank everyone who has taken part in the fundraising activities, friends and family who have donated, companies who have donated money or raffle prizes etc. He would not be able to go to Berklee without their support. Also thanks to the Hamilton Advertiser for running the story. Thanks goes to everyone.”

Brandon has been interested in music from a young age and has been playing various instruments since he was eight.

His main love is the guitar and he has played in various school concerts and South Lanarkshire Choir finals.

To listen to Brandon play or to donate to Brandon check out his website gofundme.com/berkleefunding.